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What Do Ecstasy Pills Do to You?

Sunday, October 11, 2009
Related Tags: ecstasy | pills | drug | serotonin | withdrawal

Instructions

Serotonin Production

  • Step 1:
    Ecstasy pills are synthetic drugs that act as a stimulant and make a user feel more energetic and euphoric, reports the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Ecstasy pills also increases sensitivity of a person's sense of touch. The drug produces these pleasurable feelings because it prevents the brain from stopping the production of serotonin, a chemical in the brain that controls mood, pleasure, sleeping and inhibitions. The increased amounts of serotonin intensifies all those feelings instead of regulating them. Ecstasy pills can end up temporarily damaging the brain's serotonin system and result in depression, trouble sleeping or confusion. Long-term ecstasy users may also have memory problems or difficulty concentrating.

Stimulation

  • Step 1:
    While ecstasy pills produce pleasurable feelings at first, the drug also poses health risks due to its stimulating properties. Ecstasy can narrow blood vessels and increase blood pressure and heartbeat, according to the Brown University Health Education. A user may also become physically tense, which may force his muscles or teeth to ache from clenching. Ecstasy pills can also affect vision, so a user can have difficulty seeing properly. Body temperature may fluctuate and result in sweating or chills.

Withdrawal

  • Step 1:
    Approximately 43 percent of ecstasy users experience withdrawal symptoms after the pills leave their systems, reports the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Withdrawal time frames may depend on the level of abuse, such as how long a person has been regularly taking the pills and the amount used. Some of the most common ecstasy-related withdrawal symptoms are a decrease in appetite, lowered energy levels, difficulty focusing and depression.

Overdosing

  • Step 1:
    A large dosage of ecstasy pills can result in death. Although a common side effect of ecstasy use is fluctuating body temperature, in some cases the drug may prevent the body from controlling its internal temperature, states the National Institute on Drug Abuse. This spike in body temperature can lead to death by causing the internal organs, such as the kidney, liver and heart, to stop functioning. Ecstasy pill overdoses are rare, but occur more often due to consecutive small doses. The body may not be able to properly break down the drug if multiple doses are in the system at once because ecstasy can fight against its own digesion. Once the pleasurable affects wear off, a user may assumes the drug is out of her system and continue to take more, forcing the pills to build up instead of being digested.

What Do Ecstasy Pills Do to You? Provided by eHow.com
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